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Shrimp vs Prawn

Verdict: There is no firm line: shrimp and prawn are common names, and in the US shrimp is the general word. Biologically, prawns usually have branching gills and three pairs of claws, shrimp have plate-like gills and two.

Which one fits you

Shop by size

Look at the count per pound on the bag, such as 21 to 25. That number tells you size better than the words shrimp or prawn.

Menus and labels use shrimp and prawn loosely, and reference sources agree the words have no precise scientific meaning. In the United States, shrimp is the general word for almost everything. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries, prawn usually names larger species, and shrimp names smaller ones.

There is a real biological split behind the words, though it does not line up neatly with names. Prawns, in the group Dendrobranchiata, have branching gills and shed their eggs into the water. Shrimp in the group Caridea have plate-like gills and carry eggs on their bodies. For cooking, size matters more than the label.

Shrimp vs Prawn side by side

TraitShrimpPrawn
Name statusCommon name, not a scientific termCommon name, not a scientific term
Typical groupSuborder Pleocyemata, mostly CarideaSuborder Dendrobranchiata
GillsPlate-likeBranching
Pairs of clawsTypically twoUsually three
EggsFemale attaches and carries them under her bodyFemale sheds them into the water
AbdomenPronounced bend, overlapping segmentsEven segments, no pronounced bend
Body shapeWider than deep, shorter rostrum, longer antennaeDeeper than wide, longer rostrum
US usageThe general term for most speciesMainly larger shrimp and freshwater species
UK and Commonwealth usageSmaller species, such as the common shrimpLarger species

Last verified October 2026. Typical values; individual animals, products and local prices vary.

When you are looking at which

Shrimp

  • You are in the United States and the menu or label says shrimp.
  • A female is carrying eggs attached under the tail.
  • The abdomen bends sharply and the segments overlap like plates.
  • You are buying small species or a general-purpose bag of shrimp.

Prawn

  • You are in the UK or a Commonwealth country, and the label says prawn for a large animal.
  • Looking closely, three pairs of legs end in claws.
  • The body is deeper than wide with a long toothed rostrum.
  • The abdomen is evenly segmented without a sharp bend.

How this works

This page explains the common-name confusion and lists the biological differences that taxonomists use, such as gill type, claws, eggs and abdomen shape. The quiz asks five questions, four about the animal itself and one about where you are shopping, and each answer is explained in a sentence.

The groups do not map cleanly onto the words, and reference sources note that the terms have no definite reference to any taxonomic group. A product labeled prawn may be biologically a shrimp. Use the anatomy cues if you need the actual group, and expect the occasional label that cannot be settled by looking.

Where these numbers come from

The figures and defaults on this page are based on:

Identification and kitchen guide. Naming practice varies by country and seller.

Frequently asked questions

Is a prawn just a bigger shrimp?

Not exactly. In UK and Commonwealth usage prawn names larger species, but the words are common names and size overlaps widely. Some shrimp exceed 25 cm, which is why jumbo prawns sounds normal and jumbo shrimp sounds odd.

Can I swap shrimp and prawns in a recipe?

Yes, in most recipes. The terms are almost interchangeable in everyday use. Match size and count per pound to the recipe, and cook until the flesh is pearly or opaque, as FoodSafety.gov advises.

What do Americans call prawns?

Shrimp is the more general term in the US. Prawn is used mainly for larger shrimp and freshwater varieties. Both words still name the same kind of seafood in everyday use.

Do shrimp and prawns taste different?

Taste differences come mostly from species, habitat and diet rather than the label. The sources used here do not rank flavor. Compare by species, origin and size when you shop.

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